Wi-Fi calling not available on iPhone X with iOS 16.7.11 in the UK

Your cell phone provider is correct. Even though iPhone X supports Wi-Fi calling, your provider may require iOS 17 or higher for it to work on their network. Since you’re using iOS 16.7.11, the option might not appear because it’s blocked or unsupported by the carrier on that iOS version.

To fix this, try updating to iOS 17 if possible. Also make sure your carrier settings are up to date (go to Settings > General > About and wait a few seconds—if there’s an update, you’ll see a prompt).

That is a condition your cell provider has placed on you to use the WiFi calling service that they offer. You can certainly use WiFi calling on an iPhone X and I use it constantly, but your carrier must support it.

Without you having the WiFi calling option in settings, that is a direct indication that your cell provider does not support it on your device. That restriction is not placed on your device from Apple.

The choice is yours on how you want to proceed. It will either be through using a cell provider that supports WiFi calling on your device or getting a new device to be used with your cell provider.

The web is a massive source of lies and misinformation. You can find articles there that "prove" that the earth is flat.

If your cell provider is telling you that you need iOS 17 to support Wi-Fi Calling with their service....and....you still have the iPhone X....which does not and cannot support iOS 17.....you are going to need a new phone if you want to use Wi-Fi Calling with your current provider.

If you are not happy with your current cellular provider, there may be other carriers that support Wi-Fi Calling using iOS 16, which your iPhone X supports.

If you want stay with your current provider, and enable Wi-Fi Calling, you will be looking for a new phone. It would make sense to make sure that the phone will support iOS 18 and iOS 26 (coming in the fall). The iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 would be recommended if you want to be able to update the phone for the next 7-8 years.

larry666 wrote:

I'm in the UK and I have an iPhone X (MQA62LL/A) running iOS 16.7.11

Everything I read on the web and ChatGPT tells me wi-fi calling should work but it doesn't - the option to activate wi-fi calling isn't even there.

My cell phone provider tells me yes, they provide wi-fi calling but I need iOS 17 …

Which is correct?

Thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: W-Fi calling

You seem to have answered your own question. If your carrier requires you own an iPhone capable of running iOS 17 in order to use Wifi calling, then you can't use Wifi calling on your iPhone X, which isn't capable of running anything higher than iOS 16.7.11.

So your choices?

1. Don't use Wifi calling with your current carrier
2. See if another carrier does support Wifi calling on iOS 16
3. Buy a new iPhone which can support Wifi calling

But there are people here saying wifi calling with an iPhone X on iOS 16.7.11 is impossible

You misunderstood.....Wi-Fi Calling on an iPhone X running iOS 16 is certainly possible.....IF......the carrier supports this. My son's iPhone X....running iOS 16.....works just fine with Wi-Fi calling with his U.S. carrier.

The issue is that my provider has decided, for no obvious reason, to require iOS 17.

We could provide the reasons, but it would still not solve your issue or make your frustrations go away. There are two solutions to your issue:

1) Buy a new phone that support iOS 18 and iOS 26, so you will be covered for new updates for the next 7 years or so.

2) Ask around at other carriers that may still be supporting iOS 16 with Wi-Fi Calling on their service. However, keep in mind that the carrier that you choose may change their requirements in the next year or two. In fact, I would expect it.

Technology moves quickly, and that will not change. Now, it is time for you to make a decision.

Even Apple? Who indicate wifi calling is possible with iOS16 …

We already replied to your other post, but will repeat again that you are missing important details.

Apple indicates that Wi-Fi Calling is possible with iOS 16......IF and ASSUMING......your carrier supports it.

Your carrier does not. That is a decision that was made by your carrier. Apple changed nothing.

What changed? Your carrier made the change to no longer support iOS 16 with Wi-Fi Calling. Apple did not change anything.

Bob Timmons wrote:

Apple indicates that Wi-Fi Calling is possible with iOS 16......IF and ASSUMING......your carrier supports it.

Make calls using Wi-Fi on iPhone - Apple Support

"When Wi-Fi Calling is available …"

Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support

"If you can't turn on or use Wi-Fi Calling, make sure that your carrier offers Wi-Fi Calling and that your devices have the latest software."

The articles could be a little clearer – especially about the possibility that if your carrier does not offer this feature, the user interface controls could be absent (not just disabled). But the information that you only get the feature if the carrier supports it is there.

larry666 wrote:

I know :-)

But there are people here saying wifi calling with an iPhone X on iOS 16.7.11 is impossible. It's not as there are also people saying they do precisely that.

The issue is that my provider has decided, for no obvious reason, to require iOS 17.

That's correct. YOUR provider has chosen not to support Wifi calling on iOS 16.7.11. That isn't anything Apple can change for you, hence why I offered the ONLY three options available to you above.

larry666 wrote:

Even Apple? Who indicate wifi calling is possible with iOS16 …

Apple has no control over what features carriers support on which model iPhones.

To fix this, try updating to iOS 17 if possible.

Well, iOS 17 has been discontinued and is no longer available.

But, even if it were available....it's not....the iPhone X would not be able to install it.

I use WiFi calling on my iPhone X with iOS 16 and it is not a limitation of the device. My home is in a fringe area for cellular coverage and I rely on WiFi calling.

User_2000_ wrote:

Your cell phone provider is correct. Even though iPhone X supports Wi-Fi calling, your provider may require iOS 17 or higher for it to work on their network. Since you’re using iOS 16.7.11, the option might not appear because it’s blocked or unsupported by the carrier on that iOS version.

To fix this, try updating to iOS 17 if possible. Also make sure your carrier settings are up to date (go to Settings > General > About and wait a few seconds—if there’s an update, you’ll see a prompt).

Did you read any of the posts above? Clearly NOT. An iPhone X is INCAPABLE of being updated to iOS 17, which is the entire point of what the Author asked.

User_2000_ wrote:

To fix this, try updating to iOS 17 if possible.

???

It is NOT possible to update an iPhone X to iOS 17. That is not an option.